Automatic coordinator for main and auxiliary sources of electricity



May 19, 1936. v I F. c. STEVEY 2,041,

AUTOMATIC COORDINATOR FOR MAIN AND AUXILIARY SOURCES OF ELECTRICITY Filed April 14, T1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Tb Boiler & Frederick (1670 9 I if 25 Ohms May 19, 1936. F. c. STEVEY 2,041,306

AUTOMATIC COORDINATOR FOR MAIN AND AUXILIARY SOURCES OF ELECTRICITY Filed April 14, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 flrmata re xi Freder/ C/f the coordination of the main and auxiliary sources of electricity might be employed, that is to say, any electrically actuated means comprising a fixed inductive magnetic element, and a movable inductive element connected with the purchased power supplied to the plant, in which the movable element is adjusted to respond to any change in demand on said purchased power relative to a predetermined maximum load level; the movable element being adjusted to close certain contacts when the demand on said purchased power exceeds said predetermined level, and to close certain other contacts when the demand on said purchased power falls below said predetermined level. Preferably, however, in order to free the said coordinating means from the disturbing efiect of exterior magnetic fields, I prefer to employ the device shown in the drawings of my invention. Such device comprises an assembly of fixed coils u. and a, and a2 and a3, each group constituting two halves of a current coil and movable coils b, b, the said coils being arranged in a manner similar to the so-called Kelvin balance. The movable coils b, b are carried on the opposite ends of an arm a which is pivoted at its center a. The fixed coils a, a at the left hand end of the arm 9 are connected in series with each other and with the secondary of a current transformer ct, whose primary is the conductor 22. The fixed coils a2 and a3 at the right hand end of the arm a are similarly connected in series with each other and with the secondary of the current transformer c t, whose primary is the conductor 20. The coil b carried by the left hand end of the arm a is connected to the secondary of a potential transformer pt whose primary is connected across the conductors 22, 2|. And the coil b carried by the right hand and of the pivoted arm a is connected in similar manner to the secondary of 'the potential transformer p t whose primary is connected across conductors 20, 2 I.

Thus I provide two independent load coordinating systems operated by a common movable contact which responds to variations in the demands on the purchased power. Each system consists of a potential coil b or b mounted between two halves of a current coil 0 and a or 02 and 03. The magnetic flux set up in the potential coils b or b is proportional to the voltage and the magnetic flux set upinthe currentcoils aanda' oral and a! is proportional to the current. These magnetic fluxes must react simultaneously in order to cause movement of the arm a; if the magnetic flux in the potential coils occurs at one time, and the magnetic flux in the current coils at a dinerent time, no movement of the arm will occur.

The sensitivity of the pivoted arm a to react to variations from predetermined power loads is adjusted by means of a movable weight 23.

The contacts 2 and l are connected by wires k'andkltotheterminalsofthefieldwinding of the motor c.

The motorcisofuniversaltypeandmaybe adapted to be operated either from a 110 v. A. C. or D. C. The control of the motor 0 is illustrated by Fig. 4. A series parallel arrangement is obtained when both contacts 2 and I are open. The two field coils connected by the conductors k and hi to the contacts 2 and 4 serve alternately as shunt and series fields depending on the direction of rotation of the motor c.

Two contacts are provided on the pivoted arm a at I and are connected with the wire k3 to a 125 ohm or similar resistor and the secondary of the transformer it (see Fig. 4) by which, let

it be assumed, 110 v. potential are supplied through the armature to the center of the field winding of the motor 0. A spark absorbing resistor 6, Fig. 1, of say about 400 ohms is connected across the gaps between the contacts 2, 3 and 4. The tilting of the arm 5/ causes the movable contact 3 carried by its left hand end to close with one or the other of the fixed contacts 2 or 4, thus completing a circuit thru the motor 0 thru either conductor k or M, the cir- 10 cuit thru one contact causing the motor 0 to be driven in one direction and thru the other contact causing the motor to be driven in the other direction.

The motor 0, as shown by Fig. 1, by means of a pulley and belt 0 turns the screw d which is rotatably mounted in the standards st and carries a threaded nut 12. To the nut h is attached a fiber or insulating block it which slides on the guide rod 1'. 7: denotes a rod fixed in said standards inclosed in an insulating tube. Brass contact sleeves u and u are mounted on said insulating tube and are separated by an insulating collar 11.2. Insulations n3 are also placed at the outer ends of the contact sleeves u and u and nuts n4 screwed on the ends of the rod is secure the assembly in place. A contact finger is carried by the fiber block it and is adapted to slide 'over the brass contact sleeves u and u and an insulating collar U2 between them. The contact finger 7' may thus be positioned to make contact with either of the contact sleeves u or u, accordingly as the rotation of the screw d moves the nut 71. to the left or the right. The contact sleeves u and u are connected to conductors kl and k8, respectively, and the contact finger 7' is connected to the conductor k9.

The function of the motor 0 and the electrical contact which it makes and breaks as described is to drive the motor 0 operating the governor of the auxiliary power, in one direction or the other, in order to increase or reduce the amount of auxiliary power employed.

The governor motor 0 is controlled by a system of relays operated by the load coordinating element of my invention, already described and comprising the fixed current coils a and a and driven simultaneously in opposite directions.

when the contact finger 7' connects with the contact sleeve u, the solenoid switches j are closed, and when the contact finger j is moved to connect with the contact sleeve u, the solenoid switches J! are closed.

Fig. 3 illustrates a simple mechanical means by which the solenoid switches f and f2 are interlocked so that only one may be closed at a time, as mentioned. 9 represents a bell-crank connected by a pin II to the link l0 connected to the core of the solenoid switch I, the other end of the bell-crank 9 engages the sliding bar I having a beveled end adapted to engage the notch IS in the core of the solenoid switch 12. The raising of the core and contacts of solenoid 7 switch f causes the sliding bar I to be moved to the right and its beveled end to enter said notch l5 of the core of the solenoid switch 12, thus preventing the raising of the core and contacts of the switch 12 simultaneously. A similar arrangement consisting oi a bell-crank iii in cooperation with the sliding bar l4 prevents the simuitaneous raising of the core and contacts of the switch J" when the core of switch it is raised.

A fused terminal board for both A. C. and D. C. circuits is shown at o. w and s are switches for A. C. and D. C. currents, respectively. A

small D. C. motor l (for example H. P. 110 v. with 1200 R. P. M. top speed) is connected thru conductors kill and kll and rheostat r with the source of direct current power thru the switch 3. The motor 5 thru a reduction gear 12. and belt and pulley u drives the shaft 1nd of the interrupter switch 111.. The reduction gear 11. may have a speed ratio of 501. The interrupter switch to is a rotary switch made up of three fiber dislzs 122', m2 and mt mounted on the shaft m6. The gear and pulley reduction, is and u, may be arranged to rotate said disk at the rate of about 6 it. P. M. The outer rims oi the disks m, not are provided with insulated spaced contact segments m5 (see Figs. 2 and 2a) held in place by studs ml. One of the contact segments m5 on each of the disks in and m2 is connected to the rim of the center disk m3, for example by a wire as a. The effective length of the contact segment m to which the wire as connects can he increased by electrically connecting-one or more adjacent segments to it by means of conducting linlrs fitting over the studs ml. The dish me is provided with a. continuous metal outer rim 1726. The disks m, m2 and mil make contacts with the conductors kit, kit and kid, 1'6? spectively. The contact made by the disk m3 part oi. the return circuit.

The motor o is assumed to operate the governor GV of a turbine T driving a generator G by which the auxiliary-electrical power is furrushed. The said motor is controlled by the solenoid switches p and q, which in turn. are con trolled by the solenoid switches f2 and f, respec- .ively, and the intermittent switch in.

The timing of the intermittent switch minay be controlled in two different ways: viz, by changing the speed of the motor [1 driving the switch m; or lay changing the eiiective length. of the insulated contact segments m5 of the diSI'ZS m and m2. The speed of the ,motor l, adjustable by the rheostat r, determining the rate of revolution of the disks m, m2, and mt, governs the number oi interruptions per minute in the circuits of the motor 0. Varying the number of the segments connected on the disks m, or m2, governs the length of each contact in relation to the period of interruption. The important feature of this intermittent switch m is that, with proper adjustment, load surges on the auxiliary power system are entirely eliminated.

To illustrate the manner of operation of my invention it shall describe its application to holding of the consumption of purchased electri cal power within a contracted maximum block or amount. Let it be assumed that the excitation of the movable potential coils h and h car-= ried by the pivoted arm g is such that an overload, that is to say a load greater than that contracted for from the purchased power system, causes the arm g to be tilted so as to close the contacts 2 and it, thus energizing the motor c and causing it to rotate the screw d so as to movethe nut is to the left causing the contact finger 7 to connect with the contact sleeve u. This will close the circuit thru the conductors ic'l and Tail causing the solenoid switch i to close, the clos- I transformers pt and p't". with the conductor kid is continuous and forms switch systems f and it thru the motor 0 ing of the switch 1" in turn thru the intermittent switch 112 will close the relay switch q causing current to pass to and operate the turbine governor motor o in the direction which causes the turbine to furnish auxiliary power and thus, by sharing the demand of the plant, reduce the load on the purchased power system. The solenoid of the relay switch or is connected thru conductor IclZ with the dish m of the intermittent switch .m, hence notwithstanding both the upper and A the purchased power system, the pivoted arm g would tilt in the opposite direction, the motor 0 would he reversed, the contact finger 7" would contact with the sleeve u, the switch p would close, the turbine motor governor 0 would be reversed causing the turbine operating the generator to drop load. The generator G will be synchronized with and tied in with the plant power wires or buses 2d, 26 and 22, at all times when my power coordinating system is functioning.

My invention can be adapted to systems of any size by choosing appropriate ratios for the current transformers ct and c't and the potential in actual practice 1 have found that slight fluctuations in the'power demand cause almost continuous movement of the arm a. If the arm g were directly connected electrically with the system of switches f and f2, such fluctuating teringf of the switch systems f and f2 and would result in undue wear and strain. This chattering, however, is avoided by the indirect connecting of the contacts of the arm g and the and the movable arm i.

It is possible that the demand of the industrial plant for power may at some time exceed the amount which is furnished by the contracted blocli; of purchased power plus the auxiliary power of the turbine driven generator G, which would result in too great a load being placed upon the auxiliary powersystern causing damage to it. To prevent this 1 have provided an additional safety feature consisting of a. means which prevents the loading of the turbine driven genorator oi the auxiliary power system beyond a predetermined maximum load, and causes the excess load beyond such point to be supplied by the purchased power system.

As already mentioned, when the demand of the plant for power is greater than that furnished under the contracted amount of purchased power, the governor motor 0 will be operated thru the switch (3* to cause the turbine operated generator to furnish the auxiliary electrical power reunited to meet the excess demands of the plant.

But, when the load placed upon the auxiliary power system reaches a predetermined current maximum one of the induction relay switches 11' or :2 in the conductor 705 will open and thus prevent the motor 0 from operating further to increase the load on the auxiliary power system.

The operation of the induction relay switches 31 or is illustrated by Fig. 1. kid, kid and ciently strong; that is, the switches 11 and y! are so set that they will open when a predetermined current load on the conductors icll, kit and kll is reached. The opening 01' the relay switches 1' or 2 will break the contact on the conductor k6, preventing iurther operation 0! the governor motor 0 to increase the load. Then as soon as the load on the auxiliary power system falls below the predetermined level the induction switches or y! will close again.

It is evident from the foregoing description of my invention, that while I have specifically applied it as a means for coordinating a main and an auxiliary source 0! electrical power turnished to a power circuit, it may be put to other uses.

I claim:

, i. In an electric power circuit, including a main source and an auxiliary source of power, electrically actuated means for coordinating the amounts of power supplied by said sources to said power circuit, a control for said auxiliary source, a reversible electrical motor operating said control, said motor having independent circuits controlled by said electrically actuated means, and means interposed in the circuits of said motor adapted to prevent load surges on said auxiliary source of power, the latter means comprising an interrupter switch having noncontinuous contact elements arrangeable to vary the lengths or the periods of making contact and oi interruption, relatively to each other.

2. In a device or the character described for coordinating main and auxiliary sources 0! electrical power, including a motor-operated control for said auxiliary power, a rotary switch interposed in the circuits of said control, said rotary switch comprising plural members rotated in, unlson, said members respectively provided with continuous and non-continuous peripheral contact elements, the eilective lengths of. said noncontinuous contact elements being arranleable to make the relative lengths oi. the periods or the closing and of the interruption of the circuits of said control adjustable, whereby the load on said auxiliary .source oi power may be increased or decreased by a series 0! predetermined increments or decrements, respectively. a

3. In an electric power circuit including a main source and an auxiliary source of power, electrically actuated means for coordinating the amounts of power supplied by said sources to said power circuit, a'control for. said auxiliary source, a reversible electrical motor operating said control, said motor having independent circuits controlled thru the medium of said electrically actuated means, and an interrupter switch in the circuits 01' said motor to prevent load surges on said auxiliary source of power, said interrupter switch comprising a rotating spindle carrying plural disks, respectively provided with continuous and with non-continuous peripheral contact surfaces, said non-continuous surfaces comprising segments insulated from each other, and means for connecting adjacent contact segments, whereby to vary the lengths of the periods of making contact, and of interruption, relatively to each other.

4. An electric power system comprising main and auxiliary sources of power, a control for said auxiliary source, a reversible motor operating said control, independent circuits connected with said motor, a solenoid switch in each 01' said circuits, a movable contact member causing a make-andbreak in the circuits operating said solenoid switches, electrically operated means responsive to the load on said main source causing the movement of said contact member, but the movement of such contact member being eliected only by prolonged periods 01 similar phases of action of said electrically operated means; an interrupter element interposed in said independent circuits connected with said motor, thereby to prevent load surges on the said auxiliary source of power, said interrupter element comprising a switch having non-continuous contact elements arrangeable to vary the lengths oi the periods of making contact, and of the interruption, relatively to each other.

5. An electric power system comprising main and auxiliary sources of power, a control for said auxiliary source, a reversible motor operating said control, independent circuits connected with said motor, a solenoid switch in each of said circuits, a movable contact member causing a makeand-break in the circuits operating said solenoid switches, electrically operated means responsive to the load on said main source causing the movement 01 said contact member, but the movement of such contact member being eilected only by prolonged periods of similar phases 01 action of said electrically operated means; an interrupter element interposed in the said independent circuits connected with said motor, thereby to prevent load surges on the said auxiliary source of power, said interrupter elementcomprising a rotary switch including plural members rotated in unison, provided respectively with continuous and non-continuous contact laces, said non-continuous contact laces comprising segments insulated from each other, the eflective lengths or said segments being arrangeable to make the relative lengths of periods of the closing, and of the interruption of the independent circuits connected with said motor adjustable; and thereby enabling the load on said auxiliary source of power to be increased or decreased by a series of predetermined increments or decrements.

6. In an electric power circuit comprising coordinated main and auxiliary sources 01' power including an electrically operated control of said auxiliary source, means for limiting the contribution of power from the auxiliary source, comprising over-current relays in the circuit of said control, the inductive element of said relays adapted to be energized by the current 0! said auxiliary source, said relays having movable contact making members normally held closed, and said contacts being adapted to be opened when the current contributed by said auxiliary means to the power circuit rises to a predetermined level, whereby turther operation 01 said control to increase the current contributed by said auxiliary sourceis prevented, and additional excessive loadis borne by the main source of power.

'7. In an electric power system comprising coordinated main and auxiliary sources 01 power, a control for said auxiliary source, a reversible electric motor operating said control, independent circuits connected with said motor, a solenoid switch in each of said circuits; electrically operated means opening and closing the circuits or said solenoids, such means including a contact member lineally reciprocated between the terminals of said solenoid circuits, said terminals ar ranged to be opened and closed individually by the reciprocation of said contact member, a second reversible electric motor reciprocating said contact member, and an electrically operated device responsive to the load on said main source, said device closing and opening the circuits of said motor; whereby the opening and closing of said solenoid circuits will be only in response to repeated similar phases of action of said device.

8. In an electric power system comprising coordinated main and auxiliary sources of power, a control for said auxiliary source, a reversible electric motor operating said control, independent circuits connected with said motor, a solenoid switch in each ofsaid circuits; electrically operated means opening and closing the. circuits of said solenoids, such means including a rotatable, threaded shaft, a contact member reciprocated, by the rotation of said shaft, between the terminals of said solenoid circuits, said terminals arranged to be opened and closed individually by the reciprocation of said contact member, a second reversible electric motor rotating said shaft, and an electrically operated device responsive to the load on said main source, said device closing and opening the circuits of said second motor; whereby the opening and closing of said solenoid circuits will be only in response to repeated similar phases of action of said device.

9. The combination described by claim 'i with said electrically operated device comprising a Kelauxiliary source, a motor operating said control;

switches in the circuits of said motor, electrically operated means responsive to the load on said main source operating said switches; and means forlimiting the contribution of the power from said auxiliary source to a predetermined maximum; said last mentioned means comprising over current relays in the circuit of said motor operating said control, the inductive element of said relays adapted to be energized by the current of said auxiliary source, said relays having movable contact making members normally held closed, and said contacts being adapted to be opened .when the current contributed by said auxiliary source to the power circuit rises to a predetermined level; whereby further operation of said motor to cause said control to increase the current contributed by said auxiliary source is prevented until the current-contributed by said auxiliary source is reduced.

FREDERICK C. STEVEY. 

